M2 Worksheet 2 Frederick II of Prussia (Year 8)
Text:
MODERNIZATION
Frederick managed to transform Prussia
from a European backwater (dt.:
Schlusslicht) to an economically strong
and politically reformed state. He fought
against Austria to get Silesia, to provide
Prussia's new built industries with raw
materials, and he protected these
industries with high customs and
minimal restrictions on internal trade.
Canals were built, including between the
Vistula (dt.: Weichsel) and the Oder,
swamps (dt.: Sümpfe) were drained (= to
make them dry) for agricultural
cultivation, and new crops, such as the
potato and the turnip, were introduced.
With the help of French experts, he reorganized the system
of indirect taxes, which provided the state with more
revenue than direct taxes. Frederick gave his state a modern
bureaucracy. Prussia's education system was seen as one of
the best in Europe. Frederick also abolished torture and
corporal punishment. In the army, corporal punishment was
not forbidden, but important for the discipline.
Task 1:
In which fields was Prussia modernized? Underline in the text and number each reform (1, 2, …)
Task 2:
Tick the correct fields (mentioned in the text) that were modernized by Frederick:
music agriculture sports education clothing
military taxes civil rights economy infrastucure
computers administration building arts science
Task 3:
What do you think were the three most important things he modernized? Give a reason for your
answer. You might want to take some notes first.
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